Flow-measuring apparatus.



J. W. GAMBLE.

FLOW MEASURING APPARATUS, APPLICATION FILED DEC. 20. m3.

Patenfd Aug. 6, 1918.

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FLOW MEASURING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED 050.20. I9l3.

Patented A11 6, 1918'.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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I. W. GAMBLE. FLOW MEASURINGWPPARATUS I APPLICATION FILED Tam-1913. 1,274,703. Patented Aug. 6,1918.

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UNITED STATES PATENT ormon.

JOSEPH W. GAMBLE, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNG R TO J OSEPPI S. LOVERING WHARTON, WILLIAM S. HALLOWELL, AND JOHN C. JONES, ALL OF PHILA- DELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, DOING BUSINESS UNDER THE FIRM-NAME 0F I-IARRISQN SAFETY BOILER WORKS.

PLOW-MEASURING APPARATUS.

Patented Aug. 6, 1918.

Application filed December 20,1913. Serial No. 807,878. N

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Josnrrr W. GAMBLE, a citizen of the United States of America, residing in the city and county of'Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flow-Measuring, Apparatus, of which the following is a true and exact description, reference being had to the accom-' panying drawings, which form a part thereof. I i

My present invention relates to flow measuring apparatus, of the kind in which the measurement of the amount of liquid flowing over a weir is determined from the varying accumulation of the liquid on the supply side of the weir; and the primary object of the invention is to provideimproved means for controlling the supply of liquid to the inlet side of the weir. As distinguished from other arrangements heretofore employed in which afloat or the like means, responsive solely to the accumulation of liquidin the reservoir or space receiving the discharge from the weir, has been employed to'regul ate the supply of liquid to the inlet side of the weir, my present invention is characterized by the provisions which I have made for regulating the supply of water in response to the difference in the amounts of water accumulating in said reservoir or chamber, and on the supply side of the weir. For example, in the preferred embodiment of my invention disclosed in detail herein, I' operat'e a valve, controlling the supply of-the liquid to be measured, by

fluid pressure means responsive to the difference in head of the liquid on the supply 7 side of the weir, and 0t the'liquid in the reservoir or chamber receiving the discharge from the weir, arranging theapparatusso that an increase in the head on the supply 7 side of the weir tends to in crease the supply of liquid passingtothe weir,-whilean in-' crease in the head ofliquid on the discharge side of the weir tends-to decrease the sup ply of liquid to the weir. I This arrangement possesses the'advantage oi? tending to main tain an adequate supply of liquid in the reservoir or chamber receiving the discharge vfrom the weir, as well when the rate of flow over the weir approaches a maximum as when the fiow from the weir is comparatively small. p

My improved water supply regulating means so operates that regardless of the amount of water on the supply side of the weir, the supply of liquid will be entirely out off when the liquid level on the dis charge side of the weir rises to a prede termined maximum, thus avoiding an accumulation of liquid on the discharge side of the weir large enough to interfere with the free flow of liquid overthe weir; and when the liquid level on the discharge side of the weir falls to a predetermined minmum, water is suppliedat the maximum rate. My liquid supply regulating means may therefore be saidto be primarily responsive to the accumulation of liquid in the reservoir space or chamber receiving the discharge from the weir, but when this accumulation of liquid is between its maximum limits the operation of the regulating apparatus ismodified by the accumulation of liquid on theinlet side of the weir.

The invention is of especial utility in connection with apparatus for measuring heated water, such as boiler feed water prior to its rectly by controlling the supply of water to the heater, andto provide means whereby the How regulating means normally responsive to-the dllIBleIlOB 1n the accumulation oi water the inlet and outlet chambers of the measuring tank may also be employed to properly regulate the'supply of water to the heater when for any reason the weir tank may be temporarily disconnected, as for cleaning or repairs. I

r The variou features of novelty which characterize my invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to andjforming a part otthis specification.

For a better understanding of the invention, however, and of the advantages possessed by it, reference should be had to the accom panying drawings and descriptive matter in which I have illustrated and described forms in which my invention may be embodied.

Of the drawings:

Figure l is a somewhat diagrammatic ele vation partly in section illustrating a preferred embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of a portion of the regulating mechanism shown in Fig. 1;

F ig. 3 is a somewhat diagrammatic elevation of a modified form of apparatus; and

Fig. 4 is a view taken similarly to Fig. 1, showing a modified construction.

In the drawings, and referring first to the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2, A represents a closed measuring tank, divided into an inlet compartment A and an outlet compartment A by a weir B ordinarily formed with one or more V or other suitably shaped discharge orifices B in its upper edge. C represents the pipe by which water is supplied to the inlet compartment A, and A represents a baflie interposed between the weir and the point at which the pipe C opens to the measuring tank in order to insure a quiet How to the latter. D represents the delivery pipe from the outlet compartment of the measuring tank running to a boiler feed pump or other means or place for disposing of, or utilizing the measured water. As conventionally illustrated, a measure of the liquid flowing over the weir is obtained by means of a float E working in a float chamber E connected to the inlet compartment A of the measuring tank below the lowermost level of flow over the weir by the pipe E and open at its upper end to the interior of the measuring tank above the water level therein through the vent orifice E The stem E of the Heat E projects up through the top wall of the measuring tank into a case 'F containing suitable mechanism for indicating, recording or integrating the flow from the weir as may be desired.

In the particular apparatus disclosed, G represents a heater for heating the liquid to be measured, which passes from the heater to the inlet compartment of the measuring tank through. the pipe C. As conventionally illustrated, the heater G is a heater of the open feed water heater type, receiving steam for heating the water through the pipe G and oil separator G The latter drains through the pipe G to the float box A which also receives the overflow from the measuring tank when for any reason the water in the inlet compartment A exceeds a certain predetermined maximum. A float A in the float chamber A operates a valve A controlling the escape to waste of the liquid accumulating in the float chamber A in excess of that required to maintain a liquid seal over the valve A. A represents a pressure equalizing pipe connection between the vapor spaces of the heater G and tank A.

The water to be heated is supplied to the heater G through the supply pipe H and is regulated in amount by the valve H in the pipe H. The valve H, in the particular form illustrated (see Fig. 2), comprises a balanced valve member H controlling the ports connecting the inlet and outlet chambers H and respectively of the valve. The stem of the valve member H is con nected externally of the valve casing to an operating lever H pivotally connected to and thereby fulcrumed on the valve casing.

The particular form of means shown in the drawings employed for controlling the valve H, partly in response to the accumulation of water in the outlet compartment A of the measuring tank, and partly in response to the accumulation of water in the inlet compartment A of the measuring tank, comprises a difierential fluid pressure balancing device I. The device I, as shown, comprises a casing divided into compartments I and I by a flexible diaphragm I. The diaphragm I is connected at its center by a link J to an arm J secured to the rock shaft J passing through the wall of the chambered casing and having secured to it externally of the latter an arm J The arm J is connected by the link J to the operating lever H of the valve H. A tension spring'K acts on the lever arm J in a di rection tending to move the latter in the same direction as does the pressure in the chamber I A threaded stem K and nut K through which the tension of the spring is transmitted to the arm 3 permits any desired adjustment in the tension of the spring. The chamber I is connected to the inlet compartment A of the measuring tank by the pipe L, and the chamber I is connected to the outlet con'ipartment of the measuring tank by the pipe M.

W'ith the arrangement described, an increase in the height of water level in the inlet compartment A of the measuring tank increases the pressure in the chamber I and thereby tends to open the valve H. An increase in the height of water level in the outlet compartment A of the measuring tank increase. the pressure in the chamber I and tends to close the valve H. The spring K also acts on the valve controlling mechanism in a direction tending to close the valve. In operation the apparatus tends to maintain a fairly fixed height of Water level in the outlet compartment A regardless of the rate at which water is with drawn from the latter. When the rate of flow through the weir increases and the Water level therefore rises on the supply side side of the weir is less of the weir and thepressure in the chamber I increases, the valve H is opened wider for a given height of water level in the outlet compartment A than when the flow over the weir is less rapid. Similarly, on a decrease in the rate at which water passes over the weir, the reduction inpressure in the chamber I due to the decreased height of water level in the compartment A, causes the valve H to be less widely open for a given height of water level in the compartment A than when the rate of flow through themeasuring tank is more rapid. Inasmuch, however, as. the maximum possible variation in height of level on the supply than the possible variation in height of water level in the outlet compartment ofthe tank, the rise in water level in the outlet compartment A to a certain predetermined maximum limit will insure the closure of the valve H, even though the flow over the weir is at amaximum. When, for any reason, the water level in the compartment A falls to a certain predeter mined minimum limit, the valve II will be fully opened, regardless of the height of water level in the compartment A, for the tension of the spring K and the pressure in the chamber I will be sufiicient for this purpose, even though the water level in the compartment A s at its m nlmum.

When. as 111 the arrangement shown 1n Fi s. 1 and 2, the measuring tankis sup o I I I plied with water troma heater, 1t 1s sometimes desirable to insure an adequate supply oi? water from the heater to the device supplied with heated water when the measuring tank is not operating. Thisanay be accom plished with the apparatus shown in Figs. 1 and 2 by opening valve N in the pipe N forming a by-pass about the measuring tank A and closing. the valve C in the pipe C leading from the heater to the measuring tank,the valve D in the pipe D interposed between thetanlr A and the connection to the pipe D of the pipe N, and the valve controlling the flow through the vent pipe A".

When the measuring tank is thus cut out of service it is advantageous to provide means whereby the fluidpressure; device I may still control the valve H which regulates the supply of water to the heater. One arrangement for accomplishing this purpose is illustrated in Fig. 1, wherein I have shown valves L and M in the pipes L and M respectively,whereby communication between the chambers A and I andA and I respectively,.may be cut ofi. vAsshown in Fig 1, I have also provided a valved connection LA between the water space of the heaterv G and the chamber I, and a valved connection MAbetweenthepipe N and the chamber I These valved. connections LA and MA, which are closed in the normal the normally; closed operation of the apparatus, are opened when the measuring tank is cut out of service, and the valves L and M are then closed. Under such conditions the static pressure in the pipe N is transmitted to the chamber I WVhen the water level in the heater G is above the level at which the pipe LA opens to the latter, as is normally the case, and no water is being withdrawn through the pipe N, the fluid pressures acting on the opposite sides of the diaphragm I -will obviously be equal, andthe valve II will then be closed by the spring K. When water is flowing through the pipe N the pressure transmitted to the chamber I? will be reduced, for the statichead thus transmitted will be less than the total head in the pipe N at the point at which the pipe MA is connected to the latter by an amount equal to the sum of the ve locity head at that point,'and theloss of head from friction between that point and the heater G. The valve H willthus be in a measure controlled in response to the rate at'which water is withdrawn from the heater. When water iswithdrawn trom the heater so rapidly as toresultin'lowering the level in the chamber Gr below that at which the pipe LA is connected to the heater G, this tends to open the valve H st ll wider, because it involves a further re: duction in the pressure of thewater' in the pipe N transmitted to the chamber Iflwhile the pipe. LA, which remains filled with water, will then maintain a fixed pressure in the chamber I correspondingto the difference in elevation between the chamber I and the top of the pipe LA.

To normally maintain the water level in the heater above that at which the pipe LA is connected to the heater, it is desirable to so adjust and proportion the valve H and its regulating mechanism that there will be a tendency to supply water a trifle more rapidly than it is withdrawn through the by-pass. To avoid the consequent liability to the accumulation of an excess oii water in the heater, I provide the latter with the overflow connection N which is connected to the pipe- N at a point below on the outlet side of the point atwhich the pipe MA is connected to the pipe M. IVhen thewater level in the heater rises to the height at which water begins to flow through the pipe with the by-pass, as by enlarging the latter as indicated at N in order to avoid pulsations in the head on the inlet side of the boiler feed pump, or the like, supplied with water through the by-pass.

By suitably increasing the tension of the spring K, the pressure regulating device I may be adjusted to maintain a normal water level iii-the system below that of the heater G. I11 such case the pipe LA will be kept full of water by condensation and will therefore maintain a constant pressure in the chamber I. In this case as well as when the apparatus is adjusted to maintain a water level in the heater above be connection to the latter of the pipe LA, the regulation of the water supply to the heater is similar to the regulation of the supply when the measuring tank is in use, in that it depends in part on the rate of How of the water through the apparatus.

The apparatus shown in Fig. 4 differs from that shown in Fig. 1 in the omission of the pipe N and in the fact that the pipe MA replacing the pipe MA of F l is connected to a lower portion of the pipe N preferably being connected as shown to the enlarged section N nearthe lower end of the latter. In the use of this form of ap paratus with the measuring tank cut out of service the spring K is preferably adjusted so that the enlarged section N will serve as a reservoir, and the water level will fluetuate between normal upper and lower limits located in this reservoir.

lVhile, as I have already stated, paratus disclosed is primarily devised, and is especially useful for measuring water which has been heated in an open feed water heater, it is apparent, of course, that the invention in its broader aspects is not dependent upon whether an open or a closed heater is used, nor indeed, upon the use of any heater at all; and in Fig. 3 I have illustrated an arrangement in which the regulating valve HA, which may be identical with the valve H and is controlled by the device I and its connections L and M to the weir tank, is located in the pipe C through which water is supplied to the measuring tank. With this arrangement it is immaterial of course from what source the pipe C receives the water passed to and measured in the measuring tank. In the arrangement shown in Fig. 3, the pipe connections LA and MA are dispensed with.

.Vhile in accordance with the provisions of the statutes I have illustrated and described the best forms of my invention now known to me, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes may be made in the forms of apparatus disclosed with out departing from the spirit of my invention, and that under some conditions certain features of my invention may be used with out a corresponding use of other features the ap- Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In combination, a n'ieasuri'ng tank, a weir dividing it into inlet and outlet coinpartments, a valve regulating the supply to said inlet eompartn'ient of the liquid to be measured, and controlling means for said valve automatically responsive to the difference between the liquid heads in said compartments.

2. In combination, a measuring tank, a weir dividing it into inlet and outlet compartments, a valve regulating the supply to said inlet compartment of the liquid to be measured, and controlling means for said valve jointly responsive to the accumulation of liquid in said outlet compartment and to the rate of flow over the weir, and tending to adjust the valve to increase the supply of liquid on a fall in the liquid level in said outlet compartment or an increase in the rate of flow over the weir, and to decrease the supply of liquid on a rise in the liquid level in said outlet compartment or on a decrease in the rate of flow over the weir.

3. In combination, a measuring tank, a weir dividing it into inlet and outlet compartments, means regulating the supply to said inlet compartment of the liquid to be measured, including a diflierential pressure device responsive to the difference between the liquid heads in said comparti'nents, and

cooperating mechanism whereby the liquid level in said outlet compartment is prevented from falling below or rising above predetermined minimum and maximum limits while with intermediate heights of liquid level in the outlet compartment the supply of liquid to be measured is regulated by the difference between the heads in the different compart ments.

4-. Liquid flow measuring apparatus comprising a weir and formed with an inlet compartment and an outlet compartment into which the liquid to be measured flows from Said inlet compartment over said weir, a valve regulating the supply of liquid to be measured to said inlet compartment, and controlling means for said valve comprising a differential pressure device having one pressure chamber connected to one of said compartments and a Second pressure chamber connected to the other compartment, the connection between each chamber and the corresponding compartment opening to the latter below the water level normally prevailing therein.

5. Liquid flow measuring apparatus com prising a weir and formed with an inlet compartment and an outlet compartment into which the liquid to be measured flows from said inlet compartment over said weir, a valve regulating the supply of liquid to be measured to said inlet compartment, and

controlling means for said valve comprising a differential pressure device having one pressure chamber connected to one of said compartments and a second pressure chamber connected to the other compartment, and adjustable loading means for said device, the connection between each chamber and the corresponding compartment opening to the latter below the Water level normally prevailing therein.

. JOSEPH W. GAMBLE. Witnesses:

ARNOLD KA'rz, D. STEWART.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

- -Washington,1). 0. 

